Clearly I jumped the gun on the whole if-this-was-a-regular-season-game-I-would-have-lost-it thing. So let me say it again: if this was a regular season game, I totally would have lost it. The Cubs came back from a 9-0 deficit, and won in their last at-bat.

Carlos Silva probably should have punched someone after the game so that folks could start talking about his next start as the one where he turns things around. As it stands, he gave up 8(!) runs on 10(!) hits in just two and a third innings of work, and there is no turnaround in the works. Even if Silva dominates for the rest of the Spring, he should be nowhere near the Cubs’ rotation. Sure, I would have said that two weeks ago, but now it seems even more obvious.

Ditto, unfortunately, for James Russell, who struggled again – he gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits in three innings. I know it’s early, but he can’t be considered more than a bullpen option.

One of Russell’s primary competitors for a bullpen spot is Scott Maine, a fellow young lefty, who threw a scoreless frame, giving up a hit and striking out one.

Jeff Samardzija – once again pitching at the end of the game against non-MLB-regulars – gave up a solo homer to Brandon Wood, but was otherwise fine, striking out one.

Fernando Perez may have pulled slightly ahead of Reed Johnson in the battle for the fifth outfielder spot, scoring three times, collecting a hit, a walk, and a stolen base.

Max Ramirez, who probably doesn’t have a meaningful shot to unseat hitless backup catcher Koyie Hill, went 2-3 with a three-run double.

Augie Ojeda started at short and went hitless (took a walk and made a throwing error). He was replaced by Darwin Barney, who also went hitless in his one at bat.

Former Cub prospect – one of many sent to die in Baltimore, and one of few who returned from the dead – Scott Moore had a grand slam; which is cool, but, short of a couple injuries, he isn’t making the roster.

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